Statuaria romana

Speranza

Greek and Roman sculpture

In ancient Roma sculpture in marble and bronze was plentiful and highly regarded.

On display in public places it was often mentioned in literature.

The names of Great Masters were recorded from the 5th century BC, if not earlier.

Educated Romans knew sculpture from literature and travel/

The uneducated could see it paraded in triumphs and displayed in public places.

The scarcity of masterpieces and their gradual disappearance (largely through reuse of material) resulted in the practice of making exact copies (plaster casts).